Light-induced pattern formation in nematic liquid crystals

We present a theoretical study of the Light-Induced Freedricksz transition in two geometries where dynamical phenomena induced by the laser light have been observed. We consider a spatially extended system, i.e. we assume the laser beam to be much wider than the thickness of the cell. We suggest tha t pattern formation phenomena in the plane of the cell entirely due to the light-director interaction should be possible to observe.